KABUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Unknown armed men assassinated a member of Wolesi Jirga or National Assembly of Afghanistan in the capital city Saturday, an official at the house said.

    "The assailants killed Dad Mohammad today in Khir Khana district," the official confirmed but declined to be identified.

    It is the first member of the National Assembly killed in the country since the inauguration of the parliament in October last year.

    Dad Mohammad, 54, was a former Jihadi commander, who found his way to parliament from the troubled Helmand province through ballot in last year's landmark legislative elections.

    A similar incident in northeast Takhar province Saturday left the speaker of Provincial council Syed Sadiq dead.

    Today's double assassination took place amid increasing Taliban-led militancy, hated debate over the release of Afghan Christian convert and parliament's preparation to give vote of confidence to the proposed new cabinet members.

    Members of the 249-seat Wolesi Jirga are going to resume the debate on the issue of vote of confidence Sunday. Enditem